ALCOAST 299/17 - OCT 2017 2017 MILITARY CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT

R 041433 OCT 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00A//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N1650//
ALCOAST 299/17
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2017 MILITARY CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
AWARD RECIPIENT
1. It is my pleasure to announce LCDR Matthew Prince, Fifth
District Chaplain, has been selected to receive the 2017
Distinguished Service Award for Coast Guard chaplains presented by
the Military Chaplains Association. This award recognizes
exceptional ministry professionalism, expertise in an environment
of diverse individuals, resiliency, and effectiveness in addressing
the spiritual and/or moral needs and issues of our men and women
facing the demands of life and duty in the modern military
environment.
2. As Command Chaplain for the Fifth District, Chaplain Prince
integrates Religious Support (RS) into a full range of security and
maritime safety missions throughout the six-state Mid-Atlantic
region from central New Jersey to North Carolina: 4 Sectors, 41
Stations, 2 Air Stations, 22 cutters, 169 small boats and over 3,000
personnel and dependents. Chaplain Prince is a talented mentor
supervising three chaplains and ten lay leaders, and recruited four
civilian clergy into the newly establish USCG Auxiliary Clergy
Support (ACS) Program. Truly a collaborative leader, Chaplain Prince
built the District Five suicide prevention and intervention team of
three chaplains and four USCG behavior health staff, receiving the
CG Meritorious Team Commendation Award for their work training more
than 400 individuals at 80 units in suicide prevention.
3. “The Voice of Chaplaincy,” the Military Chaplains Association of
the United States of America is a professional support and Veterans
Service Organization dedicated to the religious freedom and spiritual
welfare of Armed Services members, Veterans, their families, and
their survivors. The MCA was founded in 1925 and chartered in 1950 by
the 81st Congress. MCA Members are serving or have served in the Navy
chaplaincy supporting the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and
Merchant Marine, as well as the chaplaincies of the Army, Air Force,
Department of Veterans Affairs, or Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol.
4. I congratulate and commend Chaplain Prince for his outstanding
achievements and exemplary service. The 2017 Distinguished Service
Award will be presented at the Military Chaplains Association Annual
Awards Banquet to be held on the 24th of October at the Marriott
Newport News City Center, Newport News, VA.
5. CAPT Gregory N. Todd, Chaplain of the Coast Guard, sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.